A Search Through Runeterra (Arcane)

"Fortune doesn't favor fools."~ Miss Fortune, The Bounty Hunter, Famed for her big cannons

This chapter is the end of volume 2! Don't worry. There will be no breaks till I hit exam season.

Also a little off-topic. I want to write two short stories. One for Harry Potter and another for an original story. Like 20 chapters each. The original story would come first and it will be like a movie script kinda? Just this original idea that's been floating around in my head. Just for fun. Nothing that will be put for contract or whatever.

It will not affect the schedule or anything.

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As time went on the kids started to feel sleepy. The travel was quite tiring and they needed the sleep.

The night was great but it wasn't in the tent. Ashe had the group move into an empty home that wasn't in bad condition. The home had been used for guests of the tribe, now it was for the progressively bigger family.

Gregori had checked out the kitchen and the rooms. It was a small house. There was no furniture. It was just bare bones. Guests who came to Rakelstake were given bedding and such, since their stays were for short period's of time. Nothing too fancy but it could comfortably hold seven children. 

He checked the rooms in the house.

There were three rooms upstairs and stairs that led down directly into a hall.

He took one and split the rest into boys and girls. One room for each gender. The room for the girls was a little crowded. There were five of them after all, but they would have to make do with it for the night.

Any plans could be made the next day.

Or that's what he had thought.....

Placing all of his items in the side of the room, Gregori went to the bedding on the ground and sat on it.

After a few minutes thinking, he slowly leaned back on his bedding and closed his eyes.

"Gregori."

His eyes opened and saw her.

He noticed her smile back at him. But she wasn't alone.

"Gregori."

She was also stood alongside.

They both looked happy. Happy with him. Happy for him.

He tried speaking but the words did not come out. All he could give them was a loopy smile. They chuckled back at him.

Both of them gave him a nod with a proud smile on their face. 

He felt his eyes start to moisten.

"Gregori?"

His eyes opened once again and he looked toward the door.

Daani stood by the door. His hands holding onto the bedding. 

"Is something wrong Daani?" Gregori asked the boy.

Daani shook his head. "Can I sleep here?"

Gregori smiled, "Anything you want Daani. Go ahead."

Daani gave him a bright smile and set up his bedding next to him. He curled onto the bed and slept on his side, his tail curling into itself.

Gregori looked at the boy who had just gone to sleep and a smile sprung onto his face. He closed his eyes once more in hopes of seeing them again.

But the very next moment, another voice came from the door.

Both Annie and Daisy were stood there.

They saw Daani sleeping to the side and without asking, just moved their bedding closer to him and fell asleep.

With the commotion that caused, everyone else moved their bedding inside his room.

Rell included.

Though she moved her bedding a little closer to the wall and away from the group.

Gregori didn't mind the group's presence. In fact, it made him very happy that they would all choose to stay closer to him. It was a positive thing. It meant that he was doing something correct, and he was doing it correct enough to have the group come to him to feel safe even when they were in a safe place.

He felt his eyes close as he drifted off to sleep.

When the sun shone through the windows, he opened his eyes to see a tangle of hands and legs over him.

The kids were all still asleep. Just not in the position he had seen them go to sleep at. Except for Daani. He stayed curled up in the same position. The most surprising was Rell. She had joined the tangle at some point during the night and seemed quite comfortable if the smile on her face was any indication.

Without a reason to wake any of the kids up. Gregori stayed still. They had nothing big to do for the day and could laze around.

The only agenda for the day as the conversation with Naganeka.

It was fine to lie in for some more time.

Or so he had hoped.

It wasn't long before both Ashe and Tryndamere invited themselves inside the home and made their way into the room.

The two of them looked at Gregori and the children and looked surprised before a forlorn expression fell upon the two of them.

Gregori craned his neck at the two and joked, "Don't tell me you two want to join as well?"

Ashe looked a little offended while the corners of Tryndamere's lips moved up and he let out a snort.

Gregori pushed himself up, children tumbling off of him as he did. They didn't wake up with the movement. "Why the early visit?" He asked the two.

"The interrogation." Tryndamere answered.

Gregori looked taken aback, "This early?"

"We have other issues to work out Gregori. There is a chance for a full scale war between tribes and the breaking of multiple alliance over the past week have been causing us a lot of trouble." Ashe intervened. "As soon as we can get this one done, we can focus on other issues at hand."

Gregori nodded and then proceeded to stand up. His excessive movement waking the children up.

"Go to sleep." He soothed the group. "I'll talk with them for a while and come back." Faye blinked at him confusedly. He bent down and placed his palm over her eyes and stood back up.

Nodding to the two visitors, he hopped over the group and picked up the bag carrying the wrapped Naganeka and then reached for Caalyx.

"Are you bringing him along?" Tryndamere asked.

"Yes." Gregori answered.

"Why?" He asked.

"Caalyx has history with all of them." Gregori answered. "He could pull rank to get an answer out of her." He thumb pointed at Naganeka.

Tryndamere and Ashe looked skeptical but chose to remain silent.

He led the two into the empty hall and sat down. Reaching for Caalyx's wrapping, he pulled a little bit of the cloth away and place his hand on the spear.

"Gregori! What a surprise!" Came a dull sarcastic voice.

"We are interrogating Naganeka." Gregori spoke, not acknowledging Caalyx's earlier words. "Your presence would be helpful."

"Necessary." Caalyx cut in. "My presence would be necessary."

Gritting his teeth, Gregori answered, "Yes."

"You should be more straightforward Gregori. It is not nice to downplay someone's value like this." Caalyx pushed. "The ones near you cannot hear me but you give them the wrong impression. What would they do if they underestimate me?" The sarcasm flowed from the spear.

Gregori chose to not reply, grunting once and then placing the spear back down to reach for Naganeka in the bag.

"Now." He turned to the two as he pulled out the wrapped ballista, "Whatever happens from this point, I need you to stay silent and not fall for the tricks Naganeka will pull. She will use anything from mental to magical manipulation. Falling for it is certain death. And DO NOT TOUCH THE BALLISTA." 

The warning was heard as they both nodded solemnly.

Gregori slowly undid the wrapping making sure to not come in contact with the Darkin under it.

The moment most of the wrapping came undone, a wave a magic rushed through the room. It wasn't magic to scare off but to entice.

Gregori could feel a small nagging in his head telling him to pick up the weapon. He turned to face Tryndamere and Ashe, both of them had conflicting emotions as if they were physically holding themselves back.

"Do you want to continue?" He asked them.

Tryndamere grunted and gave a nod while Ashe centered herself before calmly replying, "Yes."

"You! I can grant you any wish! Anything you ever desire! Just.... just touch me once. Only ONCE!" Naganeka's words started.

Gregori used the wrapping to place the ballista on the ground, he then reached for Caalyx.

"Miss me Naga?" He spoke, posing as Caalyx.

"YYOOOOOUUUUUU!" Naganeka screamed. "TRAITOR!"

"I have not betrayed anyone." He replied calmly. "I was the one who was betrayed. By all of you." 

"You?" Came a disgusted reply.

"Yes." Caalyx spoke, "I had warned you all of what would happen and what I would do. You chose to ignore me. You chose your downfall. Every decision you lot made, brought you here. Your failures made you like this. Even the weakest soldier knows to obey a command from a superior. But you? All of you? You ignored it. In doing so, you betrayed me. We aren't allies anymore Naga. We are enemies. And you have been captured by me. And as a prisoner, you will be interrogated."

"You will get NOTHING out of me." Naganeka shrieked. 

"Conveniently ignoring my earlier words just to speak of something else." Caalyx played around, "It really is interesting how the title of traitor dropped when confronted. Of course, I should have expected this from you. But then again you will give me the information I want."

"No!"

Gregori shrugged, "It is always a no and never a yes. Truly sad." He leaned on the spear, "But it is what I can offer you for this information that matters."

"Nothing will make me tell you."

Gregori raised a finger to his chin and spoke while tapping it, "Not even death?"

"....."

"Oooh! A new reaction!" Caalyx cackled.

"That isn't possible. We cannot die." Came a much calmer voice.

"You remember the shield I used in our battle?" Gregori led the conversation. "Did it not remind you of anyone?"

"..... Y... Your.. brother..."

"Ah! So you do remember!" Caalyx spoke, "Now did you sense anything from the shield?"

"...."

"You couldn't have." Caalyx continued, "My brother has moved on. Entered the eternal sleep. Dead."

"H.... How.." Came a quivering voice.

"Information for information." Caalyx answered, "COME ON darling.... you give me what I want, I give you what you want."

"You are a bastard."

"Unfortunately... that is a false statement. My parents were married.... Aaaaaand royalty." Caalyx spoke.

"Fuck you."

"Heh." Caalyx snorted. "Now. Speak. What was the call that you had to answer? Who was calling out to you? Why?"

"I hate you."

"That is a long list of people you are joining Naga but you still haven't answered my question." Caalyx replied.

"There was a call recently. Few years ago. Every Darkin on the continent should have heard it. You should have heard it if you were on the continent." Naganeka spoke.

Caalyx vibrated in Gregori's hand, "The seal prevented me from hearing it and the Petricite stopped me from hearing it as well."

"Where I was is none of your concern. Answer my question." 

"Aatrox is gather everyone."

A growl escaped from Tryndamere's mouth.

Gregori raised an arm in his direction to calm him down.

"Why?"

"War. He found out where she is and he wants revenge." She replied.

"War? You listen to his command and not mine? After following him and her led you to your current position? You must be more stupid than I had originally believed."

"You are not our leader."

"Not anymore." Caalyx shot back. "Though it is funny how he wants to start a war when he couldn't end the first one properly."

"What do you mean?"

"The void?" He spoke as if educating a child, "Remember that? Yeah it still exists. Our old war was never over."

"Not possible!" Her voice rose.

"You wish it not true but the world is funny that way."

"Fine. Just tell me how your brother was freed from this cursed form."

Caalyx chuckled.

"No."

"What?"

"Betrayal is met with betrayal Naga." He winked at the ballista. "Though the price of yours is something you will always yearn for." 

"NO!!!" She shrieked.

"Oh yes!" Caalyx gave her a wave then proceeded to let Gregori drop him to wrap Naganeka back up.

After which he wrapped up Caalyx as well before turning to face the two Iceborn.

"So.... what now?"